Aerial condenser



L, P. LITZINGER, P. r1 CON-ERTY ANU Wx SNODQRASS. Afm/IL CONDENSEH.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE I9. |919. I 1,349,681 Pawntef Aug I7, 1920 3`SHEIEIS-SHEEI I. eL-3f 556 65365.13@

I (fj LEWIS P. LITZINGER AND PATRICK F.

CONERTY, OF lBTLER, AND WILLIAM SNODGRASS, OF BRUIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

AERIAL CONDENSER.

Application led June 19,

.To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, Lnwis P. Li'rziivenn, PATRICK F. CONERTY, and VVILLAM SNoD- eiiAss, all citizens of the United States, residing at Butler, Penna., Butler, Penna., and Bruin, Pa., respectively, iii the county of- Butler, Pa., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeria'l Condensers, of which the following is a specification.

rl`his invention relates to improvements in aerial or air-cooled condensers of the type commonly employed in conjunction with oil stills for eli'ecting a separation of the heavy vapors from the lighter vapors, and sometimeskiiown as a fractionator. V

The invention provides an air condenser which is compact, easily constructed and erected, all the materials oi which are stock materials, readily procured, which stands up detached from the still in such a manner as not to hamper access to the still and its parts for purposes of cleaning and repair, and in such a manner as to diminish the chances of vapors which may accidently escape from the condenser catcliing lire from the still.

lflie invention further provides an air, condenser wherein the dephlegination or separation of the volatile gases or vapors is more eliectively accomplished than heretofore, by ietarding the rapidity oi' circulation and effecting an expansion ol the vapors, thereby providing a condensate whose constituents ar`e all of a like or similar boiling point.

Moreover the action of the condenser is practically regular and uniform, resulting in the advantage oi a more regular and uniform tiring or heating of the stills, and less -wear and tear on the entire still system.

The invention iurther provides a con* denser which is easily and readily controlled, thereby enabling a large number or' stills' and condensers to be controlled by a single attendant.

rl"he invention further provides a condenser adapted to receive vapors under considerablev pressure and permitting` of the vapors being discharged at a coinlxii'atively low and uniform pressure into a subsequent condenser where the vapors which have undergone separation in the presentcondenser (or fraetionator) are condensed to liquid form, thereby resulting in a very even and constant flow o'l' liquid at the end of the system. v

The invention further provides lor cutting Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug- 117'a 1920 i919. serial no.M 305,387.

olil the vapors coming from the still from the aerial condenser, as in case of an accident to the condenser, and leading the said vapors to the liquefying condenser or condensers by another route, thereby relieving the still.

The invention further resides in certain speci-fic and novel combinations and arrangements of parts particularly set forth in the detailed description which follows, and delined in the appended claims.

The preferred embodiment of the inven tion is illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, together with certain modilications or parts thereof. l

rlhe invention will be more fully explained and ascertained in and by the following detailed description, particular reference being made therein to the drawings.

In said drawings T Figure l is a view in elevation of said embodiment of the invention, showing a part oi the vapor lines leading oil' from the still and the water condenser :for liquefying the vapors passing over from the aerial con. denser or ractionating device. i .i

Fig. la shows a modification wherein the aerialvcondcnser is connected to a single vapor line.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation oi the principal parts shown in .Fig. l. l

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 or' Fig. l looking up.

Fig. el is a cross-section on the line 4-4' of Fig. l lookingfdown. i

Fig. 5 is a view oi a modification; and

Fig. (i is a similar view ot' another modiiieation. p

lleierring to said drawings, A designates the aerial condenser, B a )art or' the vapor lines leading ofi' 'from a still; and. C a liquefyf ing condenser. i

Vapors from the still enter the condenser A through a leading-in pipe al, which communicateswith oneend or' a horizontal expansion chamber alf?, conveniently in the form'oi' a section of pipe of larger diameter than the leading-in pipe al, the leading-in pipe al conveniently comprises short sections or nipples e2 a2, and L-litting as, a horizontal pipe section a4, an L-itting a5 and a short section a, the leading-in pipe, and the horizontal expansionchamber or pipe are connected by a reducing L-fitting a7. A gate valve a8 is placed between the nipples a2 a2 in the leading-in pipe. The end of the vapor .line B is preferably provided with a T-itting @9, to one branch of which'the nipple @2 is joined. The opposite end of the horizontal expansion chamber @1 is connected with a leading-in pipe @11 from another vapor pipe similar to the leading in pipe @1. vWhere the condenser is connected to a single vapor line, the parts @2 and @S of one or' the leading-in pipes will be omitted and a T-itting substituted for the L-tting @3 and this seotion @4 and its counter art connected to said T-itting, as shown in fig. la. In either case,

the vapors Will be lead into the expansion chamber @'1D from each end.

Somewhat inward from its ends, the expansion chamber or pipe @10 is connected Withprisers @13 @14, which latter are preferably sections of pipe of the saine diameter as the pipe @1 and connected to said pipe @1 by 'ittings @15 and @18.

The risers @18 @14 are connected at the ends of another horizontal expansion chain# ber or pipe @18, preferably means of L-it tinge @1s and @2 0.

The horizontal expansion pipe @18, somewhat inwardly of its ends, may be, and pref` erably is, connected with 'another pair of vertical risers @22 @23. The risers @22 @3 are preferably sections of pipe of smaller dianb eter than the pipe @18 and connected thereto by T-fittings @21, @25. For convenience in setting` up, a union @2G is preferably provided'in the pipe @111.

j The risers @2"1, @23 :are preferably brought together into a single leading-oil' pipe or conduit @40 through L-littings short pipes @110, @31, L-ttings @32, @13, pipes @31, @35, yand a T-fitting @si For convenience in 'setting up, 'a union @38A may be provided in the pipe @3h rllhe leading-off pipe is preterably of smaller diameter than the risers @22, @23, and horizontal pipes @34, @35.

The succession of horizontal expansion chambers and vertical risers similar to @10, @13, @13, @14, @22, @23 maybe continued, il desired.

rEhe leading-od pipe @40 runs ofi" and down from the T-itting @1 to a header @50. `he leading-off pipe @4 maybe made up of a short pipe @121, L-fitting @1.2, short pipe @43, .L-,tting @41, nipple @457 L-fitting @16, and down pipe @57;

The leading-oit pipe @4 is preferably pro Avided With a gate valve @49, whereby the aerial condenserI to which the leading-ott pipe is ,connectech in conjunction with the valve, or valves @8, ny he isolated from the vapor line and from the header e5".v

The liquofying condenser C comprises a` coil (or Worm C and preferably a tank C containin Water or` cooling-the' coil C.

preferably connects with a main or pipe C3 which. runs close to the header @50, of 'the ractionating condenser, or to the plurality of headers, where there are a battery orn lractionating condensers.

.The header @5 is connected to the main C of the liquetying condenser by one or more small pipes@'"", each of which is controlled by a Valve @50.

In order to provide a relief for the still in case it is necessary to cut off the fractionating condenser for any purpose, a b pass pipe C5 is provided between the stl l and liquefying condenser, one cndbeing connected to the T-fitting or fittings and the other end is connected to the coil C. as

by a T-itting CG. closes the passage through the pipe C5. i

The still is charged wiih either high or low boiling point hydrocarbons, such as petroleum distillates and residues, and is adapted to be operated under atmospheric pressure and at high pressures, and the heat may be supplied by steam or direct heat. The vapors issuing from the oils in the still flow out through the vapor line or lines of the still, a part of which is indicated at B.

.F rom the vapor line or lines the vapors. pass upward and enter the ends of the horizontal pipe or expansion chamber @1 via the leading-in pipes @1, @11. Here a fractionation or separation of the vapors takes place, the heavie and less volatile vapors condense, while the lighter and more volatile vapors pass upward into the risers @13.

he condensed vapors run back into the Astill where they are again fractionated 01 broken up into lighter vapors before passing again through the vapor lines and into the aerial condenser. The expansion chamber @1o is prele 'ably of' larger diameter than the leading-in pipes so that a reduction in temperature of the vapors occurs by reason of the rapidity of circulation and their xpension.

rlhe vapors rising in the risers @13, @14 iow in at both ends of the horizontal ex.

' pansion chamber al, where a separation similar to that in the horizontal expansion chamber @1" takes place, the heavier and less volatile vapors condensing, and the lighter and more volatile vapors continuing to riso through the risers (1f-2, @23. The condensed vapors may run back, as heretofore.

The vapors in the risers @22, @23 again flow into the two ends of another horizontal eX- pansion chamber @114, where a separation of the lighter-'and heavier vapors takes place, as heretofore, and the sequence may be carried farther, if desired.

From the last horizontal expansion cham'- ber the uncondensed vapors pass by way of the leading-ofi pipe @4 to the header @11", from whence they are allowed to flow into the liquefying condenser coilC via the pipe and main C3. The vulves @5G are operated to regulate the fiow'lfof the vapors into fi. valve CT normally* the liqufying condenser, and ordinarily serve as the only valves requiring manipulation in order to cbntrol the' flow from the aerial condenser. By restricting the escape of the vapors through the pipe ai, the higher pressures may be confined to the fractionating condenser, which is ordinarily high in the air where escape of vapors is attended with least consequences. Moreover, by leading oil' the vapors through a pipe which is much smaller than the leading-ofi pipefr and the pipes of the fractionating condenser, the How or convection of the vapors through the ractionating condenser is slow, and hence the lighter vapors are less liable to carry along with them by the heavier vapors, and hence conduces to a better fractionation of the vapors.

As explained above, in case it is necessary during a run to cut off one of the fractionating condensers, this may be done by closing the valve or valves as and opening the valve or valves C7, allowing the vapors to escape through the bypass C5 into the liquefying condenser C.

llll it is desired to provide a more rapid cooling of the vapors than is afforded by the expansion chamber L10 0126618, this may .be done by running a pipe m60, through the pipe al", for example, and directing, if desired, a flow of cooling fluid or atmosphere through said pipe a0", as by means of a nozzle e and a stuing box connection acm, Fig. 5; Or, the same ei'ect may be obtained by arranging a spray am over the pipe or chamber al, from which a cooling fluidor. atmosphere may be sprayed.

It will be observed that by arranging the cooling devices am, am, in conjunction with the `horizontal expansion pipes or chambers, the condensation is mainly practised on the heavier vapor, the lighter vapors `which 1t is desired to separate and recover as the final product being principally unaffected by the extra cooling means lvhile we have shown and described a' particular form of the inventiontit is to be understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, as manychanges and modifications may be made therein, without departing from the spirit of the lnvention.

That is claimed isi l. In a tractionating apparatus the combination of a circuitous pipe length disposed `horizontally and providing an expansion chamber, means for connecting the opposite ends of said piping to communicate With a still, a second horizontal 'piping located above said first named piping and communicating therewith at its respective ends and providing asecond expansion chamber, a third horizontalpiping.located above said second. piping and communicating therewith at its respective ends and providmg a third expansion chamber, a condenser, and independent and separately controlled pipings connecting said first and third expansion chambers to communicate with the con denser, substantially as set forth.

2. In' a frac'tionating apparatus the combination of a pipe providing an expansion chamber, means for connecting the opposite endsof said pipe to communicate with a 4 still, a second pipe located above said first named pipe and communicating therewith at its respective ends and providing a second expansion chamber, a third pipe located above said second pipe and communieating therewith lat its respective ends .and providing a third expansion chamber, a condenser, and independent and separately controlled pipings connecting said first and third expansion chambers to communicate 'with the condenser, substantially as set forth.

In a fractionating apparatus the combination of a plurality of laterally disposed and super-posed receivers providing expansion chambers diilrelatively diircnt capacities, pipes connecting said receivers to communicate in series, a pipe connecting the lowermost of said receivers with a still, a condenser. and independent and separately controlled communicating connections beytween the lower-most and upper-most of said receivers respectively with the condenser, substantial-ly as set forth.

ln testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this slxwification in the presence of two subscribing `witnesses, this tenth day of' June 1919.

LEWIS l. LITZlNGER. l. l?. 0(7)NERTY- "vVlliLlAh/l SNODGRASS,

Witnesses S. A. Luolnuin, Jr., C, l. llaiaaclnxN. 

